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The Girl Rabbi of the Golden West

In the first of our "Heartthrobs of AJHS" series, we explore the life of Ray Frank, who was a gifted orator, teacher, and journalist in the 19th and 20th centuries, and known as the "girl rabbi from the Golden West."

"Heart throbs of Israel.” The headline in Ray Frank’s scrapbook of 1890s clippings immediately caught my attention. Did Ray Frank, the “girl rabbi from the Golden West,” write about attractive late 19th century Jewish men? Frank (1861-1948) used the term "Heart Throbs" to refer to Isaiah, Ezekiel and other prophets, whose stories and lessons she summarized and popularized for contemporary audiences.

In “Hearththrobs of AJHS” we will shine the spotlight on the fascinating men and women whose stories live inside our archive. This month we highlight Ray Frank herself (1861-1948), a gifted orator, who was the first woman to speak from the pulpit in a synagogue. Raised in San Francisco, by Russian immigrant parents, Frank became a teacher and a journalist. In 1890 she traveled to Spokane, Washington as part of an assignment to report on new Jewish communities.

Upon arrival, she was surprised to learn that though the High Holidays were approaching, differences between Reform and Orthodox Jews had stopped them from creating a permanent congregation. Frank expressed her outrage.

“Mentioning the matter to some of the prominent Jewish gentlemen of Spokane, I was informed that the number of Hebrews and their financial standing was sufficient to warrant an established congregation. ‘Then, said I, how is it that you are content to go on in this way having neither schule nor a Sabbath School?’”

Apparently, one Jewish gentleman was so impressed by her force of conviction that he promised to sponsor the services under the condition that she would speak from the pulpit. She did, and spoke vehemently and persuasively about the importance or organizing a permanent congregation and school. Her words would be reprinted in the Jewish press, and her reputation as both a writer and speaker skyrocketed -- as attested by the many notices, speeches and features in our scrapbook.

Frank crisscrossed the country, speaking at halls and synagogues, and even the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 where she helped organize the National Council For Jewish Women. Frank’s work earned her additional noteworthy monikers such as “Most-talked about Jewess of the Day” and “latter day Deborah.” Yet though she took classes at Hebrew Union College she did not become ordained. And while several congregations invited her lead, she declined.

Even as Frank’s actions challenged assumptions about women’s roles, she initially opposed the women’s suffrage movement and also believed women should not work outside the home. Her actions and views seem surprising from a 21st century perspective, but also reflect the pervasiveness of late 19th century gender norms.

Whether in the public eye or as a local communal leader, Frank remained a teacher committed to Jewish teachings and history, organizing Jewish history study circles and sisterhoods.

On International Women’s Day in 2020, how are we to honor an anti-feminist American Jewish woman who played such a vital role in the construction of Holocaust consciousness in the postwar years as well as helped to rescue so many of the YIVO’s and Vilna’s Jewish cultural treasures that are now housed at the Center for Jewish History?

AJHS Temporarily Closed

In support of New York City's efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the American Jewish Historical Society will be temporarily closed. The health and safety of The American Jewish Historical Society’s staff and visitors is our top priority, and we are continuing to closely monitor the evolving COVID-19 Situation. During this time all in person events will be cancelled or postponed, and the library and other facilities of the five partner organizations will be closed to the public.

Our building is closed, but our staff, and the stories we work to preserve and share, continue to be here for you. The stories from our archives will continue to be accessible through our online catalogue, new virtual program offerings, and and digital platforms. Please check social media for ongoing updates and virtual offerings.